Ice chipping device



Nov. 21, 1939. J. J. sHlvELY j 2.181.000

v .ICE CH-IPPING DEVIGE` v Filed July so;4 195e s shegts-sheet 2 5in( sy ,f//Alg IN1/Emol; Y John JShimeLy.

l l Bx f Y' ATTORNEYS f f Nav.'2l, l1939 J1J.s|'|l'\`/E|.Y 2,131,000

10E CHIPPING DEVICE y f Filed July so, 1936' s sheets-sheet :sl

INVENTOR Lag ` ATTORNEY PatentedA Nov. '21,

uurrlaoA STATES PATENT omer.; ,y

A IcEomPPING DEVICE John J. Shively, New York, N. Y. Appuc'atin July30.1936, serial No. 93,344.

4s claims.. (cl. ss-ez) This invention relates Ito improvements in icechipping devices.\ l

An object of the invention is to provide a device of the above natureadapted to reduce pieces of ice of various sizes to chips by pickingaction.

Another'object is to provide a device ofthe above character operable byelectricity.

A-'furth'er object is to provide improved speed reducing means in thedriving mechanism of the device. y

Still another object is to provide .a device of the above -characteradaptable to produce chips of any desired size. A

'Still a further object isto provide a unitary pick-plate readilyremovablegfrom the machine.

AnotherV object is to provide aI device of the above type includingmeans to prevent injury to the operator.

A further object is to" provide improved means-4 to bring the icc intoengagement with the picks. Still another object is to provide a deviceof the above character which may be quiet in operation.

- A further object is to provide a device of the above character whichis compact, simple, and which may be cheaply manufactured.

, Other objects and advantages of theinvention will become apparentduring the course of the i following description in connection with theacy on the lines 2 2, Figure' 1;

'a substantially drum-shaped base havingv .a squared lower portion. 2|,Figures 1 and 2, provided with an upturned rim 22 to form a pan. Feet23, preferably of rubber, are attached to the bottomsof1 the fourcorners of the squared pan 2| and are adapted to support the device onany surface 24 such as a bar, counter, ori soda-foune* tain top, thelegsbeingof suflicient height toprovide. a space 25 between the bottom ofthe pan` 2| and the`supporting surface.

The upper end of the base 20 comprises'a head 25 having an upwardlyextending central sleeve 2'|in which two ball bearings 28 andrl29,pref-` 49 in the plate 4|.

erably of the sealed grease-packed type, are disposed respectively aboveand below anl internal flange 30. v

A vertical shaft 3| has secured on its lower half a sleeve 32 formingthe hub of a downwardly 5 directed internal gear 33. The sleeve 32 -issupported in the lower ball bearing 29 and has on its upper end dogteeth 34. i

A rotor 35, shown in detail in Figure 5, has

a downwardly projecting hub 35 tting on the 10 shaft 3| and formed withdog teeth 31meshing with the teeth 34 on the gear hub 32.' The rotor ehub 36 is supported in the upper ball bearing 28,' the sleeve2'|-projecting upward `into a cylindrical recess 38 in the rotor 35 asshown in Figure 1.

The rotor 35 comprises a lower circular disk 39 carrying a plurality 'ofspokes or impeller vanes 40, Figures l, 2 and 5. The va'nes 40preferably are disposed'with arearward tangential inclination `withrespect to the rotational directionof 20 .f

the rotor 35 as indicated by the arrow in Figure'2. l Y S A circularplate 4|, Figures 1 and 4,\herein Aafter referred to as the pick plate,is secured to vthe top of the rotor 35 by means of a nut 42 on 25 theend of the shaft3l, a short upperA hub 43 on the top ofthe rotorengaging' a central hole 44 in the pick-plate to act as a centering.pilot for` the latter.

'A pin 45, Figures 2, 4 and 5, is secured in the 30 rotor 35 and extendsthrough the pick-plate, providing4 apositive driving means for theplate. The pick-plate 4| carries. one or more upwardly inclined pickmembers suchy as 46l and 41,

Figures 1 and 4, partly.overlyingopenings 48 'and .5

The pick members may' be formed integrally with the plate 4| in theshape vof aps having forwardly directed sharp points i along their upperedges. Each pick member may have any desired number of points accordingto the grade and neness of chip which it is desired to produce, and theheight of the pick f. members and sizeof the openings 48 and 49 mayvalso be" varied for the same reason, as hereinafter 45 explained.

It will be seen that the pick-plate `structure is well adapted'to easyand uniform manufacture, lthe normal sequence of operations being tostamp out the plate complete with its various openings and pick-angles,then bend the pick members upward and bring their points to sharp-` nessby grinding off'the upper corners. It is also obvious that the one-piececonstruction makes it impossible for the pick members 46 and 55 55secured in the middle of the cross member 69,

41 to be improperly installed or to work loose in service.

The pick-plate 4| is so disposed on the rotor that the openings 48 and49 overlie the cavities 5| and 5|a between adjacent vanes 40, Figures 1and 2. In the structure shown, wherein the plate carriestwo pick membersas noted, holes 52 and 53, Figure 4, may be provided leading through theplate 4| into the underlying cavities 5|b and 5|c diametrically oppositethe cavities 5| and 5|a respectively. These holes permit balancing ofthe plate 4| and provide for the admission of air to the cavities 5|band 5|c for a purpose herein- A 51 and 58 iitting into an annular recess59 in the top of the drum 56. The space between the inner and outercylinders 51 and 58 may be filled with any suitable `heat insulatingmaterial 60 such as ground cork, rock wool or the like, and

a channel ring 6| is secured to the top of the cylinders to bind theupper edges thereof in concentric relation and to protect theinsulation' 60 against the entry of moisture. If` desired, the

Y inner cylinder 51 may have a lining 62 of rubber or other resilientmaterial. A cover 63 provided with a centralknob 64 is removably mountedon the top ofthe hopper 54.

The cylindrical inner surface of the drum 56 surrounds the circumferenceof the rotor 35 with a small running clearance as. shown in Figures L 1and 2. A shoulder 65 in the drum closely overlies the projecting ends ofthe fins 40. An opening 66 in one side of the drum 56 leads into theinterior of a downwardly curved spout 61 secured to or formed on theexterior of the drum. The openingl 66 and interior of the spout 61 forman exit passage 88 leading tangentially from the interior of the drumandcurving downward through the spout, the cross sectional area of thepassage increasing in the outward direction.

A cross member 69 on the drum 56, Figures 1 and 3, spans the plate 4|above the tops f the pick members 46 and 41 and is formed with two ns 10and 1| inclined downwardly in the direction of. rotation of the rotor. Avertical rod 12,

extends upward through the central axis of the hoper 54 and through thehub or center of a spider 13 and may terminate in a sharp point 14. Thespider 1.3 has three or more upwardly inclined legs 15 extendingto a rim16 which overlies the channel ring 6|, a nut 11 on the rod 12 holdingthe spider clamped downward in position as noted.

A motor 18xenclosed in the base 20, has an upper end plate 19 bolted tothe bottom -of the head 26 and forming therewith a lubricant chamber 80.

The vertical shaft 8| of the motor 18 carries on its upper end a pinion82 meshing with the internal gear 33. The upper bearing 83 of themotorIk -is preferably ofthe grease-packed ball type adaptedto operatefor long periods of time without attention 'while at the same timeacting as a seal to retain lubricant in the chamber 80.

A plug 84 isl provided in the head 26 to permit charging the chamberwith lubricant.

A plate member 85 fastened to the front of theis of the well known typeadapted to open when released and has a plunger 89 directed outwardlyina bore 90 through the plate member 85. A switch lever 9| is swung on ahorizontal pivot pin 92 supported in lugs 98 formed on the barrel 56.Side walls 94 on the spout 81, Figure 1, serve to retain the pin 92longitudinally in the lugs 98. v l

An extension 95 on the rear side of the lever 9| is adapted to engagethe switch plunger 89. A' torsion spring 96 disposed on the pivot pin 92and engaging the spout 61 and lever 9|, serves to hold the extension 95against the switch plunger 89 and to partly counter-balance the strengthof the latters internal releasing spring (not shown). The lever 9| isprovided with an external pad 91 of rubber or other suitable resilientmaterial and having an outwardly projecting lip 98 at the -25 upper endthereof adjacent the spout 81, Figures 1 and 6.

' The upper rim 99 of the' base 20, which fits inside the lower part ofthe hopper drum 56, forms with the head 28 a sump |00 to collect waterdue to melting of ice above or in-the rotor 35. A drain passage |0| in atunnel ridge |02 in the base 20,leads from the sump |00 to an outletelbow |03`extending into the space 25. A suitable hose |04 may beattached to the elbow |03 to conduct water therefrom'to any adjacentsink or other disposal'means.l An inclined hole |05, Figures 1 and 2,leads from the interior of the pan 2| into the drain passage |0|.

Aclosure plate |06, Figure 1, which may be provided with a gasket |01,is secured to the bottom of the base 20. A current supply cord |08,which may have any suitable type `of attachment plug (not shown) extendsthrough a grommet |09 in the plate |06 and to the motor 18, the switch88 being connected in series therewith by means of leads ||0.

The `operation of the device is as follows: Broken ice is placed in thehopper shell 55, the lowermost vpieces resting on the pick-plate 4|. Thespider 13 serves toh prevent the entry of unduly large ice chunks, andif desired the sharp point 14 maybe provided on the rod 12 to provide apick for breaking such chunks.

When-it is desired to chip ice into a receptacle suchas a glass, theoperator places the receptacle under the spout 61 .and presses the pad91 and lever 9| inward either with the fingers or with the receptacleitself. 'I'he extension 95 presses inward the plunger 89, closing theswitch 88 and starting the motor 18. The motor acting through thedescribed reduction gearing, rotates the rotor 35 and pick-plate 4| inthel direction of the arrow, Figure 2. The sharp pick-points 50 engagethe lowermost layer of ice chunks, separating chips therefrom. The chipsglide down the unobstructed lower surfaces of the pick members 48 and 49into the cavities 5| and. 6in.

-Here the chips encounter the vanes 40. The

vanes sweep the chips around the interior of the 'drum 56 and hurl themby centrifugal force through the passage 68, through the spout 61 andinto the receptacle held under the latter.

When the desired amount of chipped ice hasbeen delivered the operatorremoves the recep tacle, allowing the switch 88 to open, the plungerduced to chips.

89 forcing the lever 9| outward. The-use of the compensating torsionspring S6 makescloslng of the switch possible with comparatively lightlyapplied pressure and prevents flapping ofthe Also, as the deviceoperates with a positive picking action as opposed to shaving or cuttingaction, it may operateat much lower speed and with less power than wouldbe necessary for shaving or cutting, while at the same time theincreased diameter of the lower rotor -and vane structure ver that ofthe pick-plate provides sufficient centrifugal force even atcomparatively slow rol tative speeds to eX-pelall chips through thespout. The above characteristics and the use of the des cribed speedreducing means, 'permit thefuse of a comparatively small and lightlmotor, preferably of the series-wound universal type applicable toeither 'direct or alternating current. The use of this type motor, whichhas an inherently high.

passages having parallel or converging! walls.

starting torque, has the further advantage of eliminating any failure tostart against a wedged load of ice.

The rubber lining B2; .Figure 1, tends to cushion the engagement of icechunks with the interioiw 'of the hopperI as the ice moves into cuttingposition, thus promoting quietness of operation.

The reason forV the outwardly divergent shape of the exit passage 68 isto insure free and complete discharge of the ice, preventing any clog``ging of the spout such as is liable'to occur in It hasbeen notedthatholes 52 and` 53k in the pick-plate 4| lead into the rotor cavities5|b and 5|c which are not provided with pick members. During thechipping operation air is drawn through these holes, the adjacent vanes40 acting as the vanes of a centrifugal blower to deliver the air inoutward puffs or .blasts through the pas-V sage 68. The blasts ofairpassing outward be. tween deliveries of ice from the cavities 5| and5|a aid in maintaining complete discharge of the ice, particularly anysmall light particles formed in the 'chipping process.` Air may readilypass to the holes 52 and 53 between the irregular' chunks of ice in thehopper, and perforations may be provided in the cover 63 to admitgair tothe hopper.

As previously pointedy out, the pick-plate 4| with its pick members is avunitary structure retained on lthe rotor 35 by means of the single nut42, Figure 1. In commercial service the user Y may be furnished with anumber of pick-plates having their pick members 46 and 41 set at vari-`ous heights .above thel plate and with different numbers of points`50,to form different sizes of chips. When it is desired to change the gradeof chips, the hopper assembly 54, which is normally secured to the base20 byv means of screws I2,

Figure 6, may be removed bodily,` the nut 42 screwed off the shaft 3|,and the plate 4| removed and replaced by a plate having pick membersadapted to produce the desired grade. During the time that the hopperassembly is removed from the base 20 it/isimportant that there beeffective means to prevent accidental starting of the motor which wouldset the' exposed ,rotor 35- and pick-plate 4| in motion with thedangerof injury to the operator. Thism'eans is' provided by theattachmentV of the switch levetrglv v barrel 58 which forms part ofthehopper' sembly 54. :When thehopper is removed, therefi fore, it carrieswith it the switch leverl, effectively disabling the switching meansagainst vace cidental closing, since the plunger89 is disposed deeplywithin the -bore 90. Inother words, the

switching means comprises two elements attached to' twov majorportionsof the device, so

that separation of the portionsby disengaging these elementsdisables'the switching means.

'I'he legs 15 of the spider 13 further protect the operatory bypreventing careless insertion of his hand and arm into the hopper andinto contact with the pick members 46 'and 41.

Any water of condensation which may forml on the outside of the base 20or hopper 54 runs lusdown and collects in the pan 2|, from whichthewater runs through the hole |05 into the main drain passagek |0| fromthe sump `|00Fig ure 1. The bottom plate |06, Figure 1, renders theinterior ofthe base 20 substantially air-tight, eliminating condensationof moisture therein 'which might injure the' motor 18, and due to thefact that the operation of the deviceis intermittent the motor does notrun sufficiently torequire outside ventilation. The opening 81 inthebase 20- under the switchplate 85 islarger than ythev switch'81. Byremoving the plate 85, therefore,

the switch may be pulled outbodily through the kopening 81 for serviceor replacement, the in.

terior leads I0 being made of sufficient length to permit the aboveoperation. Itis thus unnecessary to tip the machine or otherwisedisturbits normal operating position in order toservice the switch.

The use of the internal gear 33 andthe pini`on 82,-running in grease orother suitable lubricant, `provides 'a sil-ent and elicient speedreducing means, while the grease packed ball bearings 28,

29 and 83 in addition to theirA bearing functions,

effectively seal the chamber 80 againstleakage, making replenishment oflubricant unnecessary throughout-longperiods of service. The'upperbearing 2.8, which carries the downward thrust of the rotor, isprotected against. water bybeing disposed in`the recess 38 in the lrotoritself and high above the sump: |00. The internal gear 33 is preferablya die `casting with the vshaft 3i cast therein as an insert. It shouldbe notedthat the'main drive between the gear 33 and rotor 3,5

takes place. directly through the dog teeth-34 and 31, the shaft 3|acting principally as a pilot spindle and without keys or the like.

ferred form it is not limited to the exact struc-` tures i1lustrated,'asvarious modifications may'be made without departing from the scope ofthe appended' claims. 1

What is claimed is: f 1. Ina device of the character described, in

combination, a base, a hopper on'said base adapted to contain ice, adepressed spider in the upper part of saidhopper adapted to initiallyvreceive said ice and to guide into the lower part of' said hopper piecesof said ice smaller than a predetermined size, a rotary pick-plate insaid hopper and having openings therein, picks on said plate adjacentcertain but not all of said openings and adapted to engage said icewhereby chips may be picked from said ice and guided through saidcertain openings, stationary means in said hopper to hold said ice inengagement with said picks, a spout on said hopper having an outwardlydivergent passage therethrough, a centrifugal impeller underlying saidplate and adapted to expel said chips through said pasage, and means torotate said plate and impeller.

2. A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said' impelleris ofsubstantially greater diameter than said pick-plate and wherein saiddivergent passage has a tangentially directed inner opening closelyadjacent the periphery of said impeller#2 and a downwardly directedexteriorroutlet.

3. In an ice chipper, in combination, a base,

a'motor in said base, a container for ice, said container having atangential outlet opening, means rotatable to chip said ice, astationary totally inclined member adjacent said chipping means andadapted to hold said ice in wedging engagement therewith, centrifugalmeans rotatable with said chipping means to discharge said chipped icethrough said outlet, and ,speed reducing means operatively connectingsaid motor to said chipping means and said centrifugal means, saidcentrifugal means being of substantially greater diameter than saidchipping means whereby said centrifugal means 4may have a highperipheral velocity relative to the velocity of said chipping means.

4. An ice chipper as claimed in claim 3, 'including a spout comprisingwalls having smooth inner surfaces dening an unobstructed divergentdischarge passage leading outward from. said tangential opening.

, 5. In an ice chipper including a container for ice, in combination, arotary chipper plate having picks adapted to engage said ice to producechips therefrom, a centrifugal impeller 'secured to said plate andadapted to receive said chips, the diameter of said impeller beingsubstantially greater than theouter diameter of said plate, and adownwardly curved spout associated with said container, said spoutcomprisingwalls havingv smooth interior surfaces deilning a dischargepassage leading tangentially from an opening closely adjacent theperiphery of said impeller and diverging outwardly for unobstructeddischarge of said chips.

6. In a device of the charactendescribed, in combination, a base, ahopper'removably secured thereon and adapted to contain chunks of ice,

means in the upper part of said hopper to limit the chunks which maydescend within said hopper to a size substantially smaller than theinterior of said hopper, said means including a spider having a -centralportion depressed to a point substantially'below the rim of said hopper,a centrifugal impeller supported by said base and comprising a`plurality of dischargeA cavities, a motor in said base, gear meansoperatively connecting said motor to said impeller, a plate detachablysecured on said impeller and adapted to support said ice in said hopper,a pin secured in said impeller extending through said plate to drive thesame, said plate having openings leading to certain but not all of saiddischarge cavities, picks on said plate partly overlying saidopeningsand adapted to engage said ice to chip the, same through saidopenings, rearwardly in- ,clined stationary iins'in the lower part ofsaid hopper above said picks and coperative therewith to wedge said iceinto engagement with said plate and picks, and a spout on said hopperhaving a divergent passage therethrough in line with and closelyadjacent the periphery of said impeller, said impeller being adapted todischarge said chipped ice through said passage.

7. A device as claimed in claim 6 wherein said plate Icomprises airopenings into said'other impeller cavities rwhereby said impeller maydischarge air through said exit passage to facilitate the discharge ofsaid chipped ice therethrough.

8. In an ice chipping device, in combination, a base, a hopper on saidbase and adapted to contain ice, said hopper comprising a lower drum anda shell attached thereto, rotary means withinl said drum to chip saidice, a spout on said drum adjacent said chipping means and having smoothinner' surfaces defining an outwardly divergent outlet passage,centrifugal means associated with said chipping means in line with saidpassage and operable to eject said chipped ice through said passage, astationary fin in said drum and closely overlying said chipping means,the lower side of said iin being rearwardly inclined to guide saidice-into wedging engagementwith said rotary chipping means, means insaid shell to guard 4saidchipping means and to limit the size of ice`chunks which may be fed thereto, said means comprising a spider engagingthetop of said shell and having its' middle portion depressed withinsaid hopper, and a pick-point supported in said' middle portion andadapted to break up masses of ice thrust thereon.

JOHN J. SHIVELY.

